PARIS, France:--- Recent hurricanes have left unprecedented devastation across the Caribbean and it is a traumatic time for all those who live in the region. Whole communities and towns have been decimated, and the global community needs to act quickly and give generously to relieve suffering and help to rebuild.Alongside the on-going emergency response, Caribbean leaders today announced the launch of a new public-private coalition to create the world's first "climate-smart zone". The Caribbean Climate-Smart Coalition aims to find a way to break through the systemic obstacles that stop finance flowing to climate-smart investments. With the right domestic and international reforms, the world can step up – and help unleash the means to catalyze an ambitious US $8 billion investment plan to bring greater energy and infrastructure resilience to 3.2 million Caribbean households. This would help Caribbean islands to eliminate their costly dependency on fossil fuels so that they can meet close to 100% percent of their energy needs from renewable sources, and to embed resilience into communities and livelihoods to realize the bold ambitions of all Caribbean people.The announcement came at the One Planet Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to review progress made on the Paris Agreement adopted by global governments two years ago today.The Coalition aims to reinvigorate the islands that have been impacted by recent hurricanes Irma and Maria, and help build more resilient infrastructure and communities across the region as the likelihood of future extreme weather events increases.

GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- World AIDS Day was observed on December 1st. It provided an opportunity to increase awareness, education and a greater understanding of HIV as a global public health issue.

This holiday season, the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), calls on the Sint Maarten community to take time out to remember and pay respect and tribute to those that they have known who passed away from the disease.

CPS also reminds members of the community to practice safe sex this holiday season.

Currently, there are many scientifically proven prevention options that health services can offer to help people prevent HIV infection and protect their health.

These measures include new options such as self-administered HIV testing, which can be done at home, and the availability of HIV testing in places other than health centers. In Latin America, 2 in 10 people with HIV and 4 in 10 in the Caribbean do not know they have the virus, which represents an improvement over last year. Early diagnosis improves the quality of life of people with HIV and also helps prevent new infections. To benefit from such it is recommended for persons to get tested.

The 2017 theme for World AIDS Day was: “Everybody counts. End AIDS.”

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with UNAIDS, launched the report, HIV Prevention in the Spotlight - An Analysis from the Perspective of the Health Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean, which analyzes the progress made and the challenges faced by health systems in preventing HIV transmission.

The focus on HIV combination prevention, early detection and access to antiretroviral treatment are essential to end HIV transmission. Governments, health service providers, international organizations, civil society organizations, people living with HIV, key populations and other stakeholders should work together in the response to HIV.

The PAHO/UNAIDS reports indicate that expanding access to all HIV prevention options that are now available would reduce the number of new cases of HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean, which since 2010 has remained at 120,000 every year.

According to the report and UNAIDS data, the majority (64%) of new HIV cases occur in gays and other men who have sex with men, in sex workers and their clients, in transgender women, in people who inject themselves drugs, and in couples belonging to those key population groups. In addition, one-third of new infections occur in young people aged 15 to 24.

The report advocates what is known as the combination prevention approach, which is based on scientific evidence, respect for human rights and non-discrimination, and which includes three elements: offering a comprehensive package of biomedical interventions to users, promotion of healthy behaviors, and establishment of enabling environments that facilitate access to and use of prevention measures.

The AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean 2016 according to UNAIDS data says there is an estimated 310,000 (280,000-350,000) people were living with HIV in the Caribbean as of 2016; Approximately 18,000 (15,000-22,000) new HIV infections occurred in the region.

Some 9,400 (7,300-12,000) people died from AIDS-related illnesses in the Caribbean. Between 2010 and 2016, the number of AIDS-related deaths in the region declined 28%.

Treatment coverage reached 52% (41% -60%) of all people living with HIV in the Caribbean and fewer than 1,000 new HIV infections occurred in children in the Caribbean.

There are incremental steps made in HIV which leads to some wins but to guarantee 100% it takes all persons to collectively work together in creating opportunities by means of providing the collected data, documenting and sharing on the various experienced scenarios to be used as input to improve or develop effective preventive programs, services, treatment and management and to provide care.

The success is dependent on each one to comply and implement the advised preventive measures/tips and realize the necessary tasks/assignments.

CPS advises let us collectively work along the 2017 theme for World AIDS Day was: “Everybody counts. End AIDS.” Additional concerns consult your family physician or the Sint Maarten Aids Foundation.

CAY HILL:--- Detectives have arrested all three suspects in the ongoing investigation concerning a male victim who was seriously injured with a machete which caused a wound to one of his arms. The incident happened on December 2nd, 2017 on Welgelegen Road in the vicinity of Sea Breeze Hotel. The two male suspects identified with initials J.M. and A. v. P. voluntarily turned themselves in at the Police Headquarters while the female suspect identified with initials J.L. was arrested at her home. All suspects remain in custody for further investigation.

Police chase suspect firearm found.On Monday, December 11th a police patrol during a routine control in the area of Crystal Bar on the Soualiga Road saw a man walking very suspiciously with a container in his hand. The area is known to be one where drugs and weapons are sold and bought. When the officers approached this man to find out what the contents of the containers was the suspect started behaving increasingly suspicious. As the officers stepped out of the patrol vehicle to approach this man he took off running through the dark and narrow alleys in the area. The officers chased the suspect on foot and saw when he threw an object under a table in one of the alleys. The suspect disappeared into the darkness. A search of the area was done by the investigating officers and a black 9-millimeter pistol was found exactly where the suspect had dropped the object.This weapon was confiscated for further investigation along with three small plastic bags containing a small amount of marijuana which were in the container. The suspect was not arrested.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Rotarian Brian Greene of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle was honored with his PHF+2 by Rotarian Aernout Kraaijeveld as Brian and his wife Cathy donated pretty much everything they had on SXM to hurricane Irma victims: they let people stay in their home and let them use everything they had. Brian also gave away a motorcycle to provide needed transportation even though his own car was totaled. Brian was a medical student here on St. Maarten at AUC, he has now left us to peruse his internship back in the states. Brian is a past president of his previous club The Rotary Club of Carson City Sunset in Carson City, Nevada. Mid Isle Rotarians consider Brian a True Rotarian at Heart.When $US1000 is contributed to The Rotary Foundation, a request can be made for an individual to be recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow; that person can be a Rotarian or a member of the community who is not a Rotarian.When a person is recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow, they are presented with a Certificate signed by the Rotary International President and the Chairman of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation, and a lapel pin and medallion. The contribution to The Rotary Foundation can be made in one sum or by cumulative giving over a number of years. Individuals can make a personal contribution or the contribution can be from a club, a company or business.The Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle presently meets Tuesday at 7pm at Pineapple Pete in Simpson Bay. For more information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our Facebook page Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle.

PORT ST. MAARTEN:--- As part of Port St. Maarten’s Post-Irma strategic business development and marketing approach, representatives from the port’s Cruise Business Unit traveled to Florida last week and have met with several cruise lines and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Operations Committee regarding the first cruise ship calls.Port representatives provided a destination update about the recovery process post-Irma; a state of affairs report of local stakeholders who provide services to the cruise sector; photos and video footage of the activities and experiences by cruise passengers from the first two cruise ship port calls which went extremely well and incident free.The FCCA Operations Committee plans to travel to the country early 2018 to meet with stakeholders and continue discussions about the recovery of the destination. Port St. Maarten Cruise Business Unit will continue meeting with cruise line executives in January.At the second meeting with the FCCA Operations Committee which took place on December 8, chaired by FCCA President Michele Paige, the committee members were very impressed with the progress shown and the immense efforts made by the population to get the destination ready for the first cruise ship calls. The Port St. Maarten presentation was well received by the Operations Committee ending with the conclusion that cruise lines are anxious to return to the island, and that the port has stepped up, and to continue to use the opportunity to reinvent the cruise product.Port representatives also reiterated to the FCCA and cruise lines last week that the destination is open for business, and provided the latest information related to SXM Airport, public utilities (electricity and water), transportation, beaches, shopping, entertainment and culinary establishments, shore excursions and tours.The FCCA was reassured about safety and security; there were also discussions about “The Caribbean is Open,” a multifaceted million-dollar campaign to inform travelers that the majority of Caribbean destinations are operating normally and ready to welcome cruise visitors.Destination St. Maarten was the first to sign-up for the campaign at the 24th FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show that took place in Mexico in October. The discussions related to this issue were about how to formalize and give further content to the campaign from St. Maarten’s perspective.Port St. Maarten already held discussions early November in Miami with FCCA President Michele Paige, Senior Vice President Adam Ceserano and Mico Cascais, former Chairman of the FCCA Shore Excursion Committee for the past 18 years, regarding a destination state of affairs at that point in time, end of October/early November.“It is important that we maintain a close relationship with the FCCA and have regular consultations with the cruise organization to keep them appraised of our recovery process and how cruise passengers can rediscover the destination. They appreciated this approach especially after Irma, when the port’s primary focus was operational assessments related to the facilities and preparing the facilities to accept emergency and humanitarian relief aid from military and cargo vessels.“Thereafter, Port St. Maarten Management met with several cruise partners to discuss the current state of affairs and how to move forward. This was then followed by our attendance to the FCCAs 24th Cruise Conference and Trade Show in Mexico. The FCCA officials said that St. Maarten will be assisted to return as a leading destination in the North-eastern Caribbean. As a destination, we also have the responsibility to continue to welcome our cruise passengers with a warm St. Maarten smile and to be courteous,” port representatives concluded.Created in 1972, the FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization composed of 18 Member Lines operating more than 100 vessels in Floridian, Caribbean, and Latin waters.The FCCA provides a forum for discussion on tourism development, ports, safety, security, and other cruise industry issue and builds bilateral relationships with destinations' private and public sectors. By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operating practices, the FCCA works with governments, ports and private sector representatives to maximize cruise passenger, crew, and cruise line spending, as well as enhance the destination experience and increase the amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors.